Soccer Precinct, Nuriootpa Centennial Park

Project Budget: Total $4,110,303, Grant $1,034,462, Council $3,075,841

Project Partners: Barossa United Football Club

Soccer Precinct

Grant: $1,034,462, Council: $3,075,841, Total Project Value: $4,110,303

Construction of a new Soccer Precinct is now underway in the north end of Nuriootpa Centennial Park thanks to a $1,034,462 grant from the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program - phase 2 (LRCI Program), which was offered by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. Council has contributed $3,075,841 to the project resulting in $4,110,303 worth of new infrastructure to support local sport.

The new facilities are to Football SA and International Football Association Board (IFAB) Laws of the Game requirements. The Precinct will include a new Full Size Equivalent (FSE) synthetic football pitch to IFAB rules of the game compliance for all ages/user/gender training and competition. Pitch lighting, associated fencing infrastructure to FSA requirements with a grass modified pitch (MODI) for training and local competition levels. Maintain the existing (FSE) grass pitch. 4 x all user Change room and Club room facilities (kitchen, canteen, storage, medical, user amenities), referee facilities to FSA requirements. Associated ancillary internal road, parking and service amenities and upgrades.

The project is aimed at addressing significant unmet demand and growth pressures for soccer in the Barossa as the fastest growing participation sport in the region and Australia. Barossa United Football Club cannot expand participation as it has completely outgrown its available playing capacity. Further playing spaces will allow the current grass pitch to be adequately maintained due to expanding the areas of use and allowing recovery time. Providing adequate changing and clubroom facilities that will be sustainable for future generations and achieve gender equality for girls/women participants in a safe environment. The facility will also provide for current and future growth demands ahead of Women’s Football World Cup in Australia in 2023.

Nuriootpa Centennial Park Master Plan

The Nuriootpa Centennial Park and Coulthard Reserve Concept Plan establishes the Park as a regional sports facility and seeks to activate Coulthard Reserve for recreation and community use. The Park has already received upgraded multi-use, gender neutral changeroom facilities, which were completed in 2020.

In November and December 2017 Council undertook extensive community consultation. In addition to community and stakeholder engagement, Council hosted open forums and pop-ups at Barossa Co-Op Mall and Nuriootpa Centennial Park Sports Centre. The consultation attracted 19 formal submissions and 39 informal submissions.

Council adopted the masterplan with a view to prioritising, phasing and costing the project.